Mix Computer Wire Breakdown
Great forum here. I rarely get the time to post, but read others insights at least daily and often more frequently. Anyway, figured its time I do my part and chip in a little. If a similar breakdown has been done, I would be interested in seeing the results to compare.
So here goes..
MIXED PC/TELECOM WIRE BREAKDOWN (RECOVERY)
I didn't take the time to weigh out each type of cable (hence mixed), but the batch as a whole consisted of:
*Power Cables - Standard 6' PC/Electronics grade Power Cords (3 prongs/strands). This made up probably 40-50% of the preprocessed wire/cable weight.
*CAT5/CAT6/Telecom Wire (telephone connectors on each end). These cables have one of type of connectors buyers will purchase as "gold pinned". To me, the time required is not justified by the weight. Probably 25-30% of my total preprocess cable weight.
*Audio/Video Cables (gold connectors each end). These also have gold pinned connectors that are more hardy than the telephone CAT variety. Some of the AV cables I had were 12" "V" type, meaning 2 connectors/cables on one end and one connector/two cables on the other. I did a mini breakdown on these preprocess and they were 0.25lb each. The connectors weighed 0.23lb while the cable itself was only 0.02. Maybe Something to keep in mind if you're bidding mixed cable at auction or giving someone a quote on a lot....connectors are going for $1.35/lb right now while
insulated PC wire/cable is around 50% less.
*AC Wall Adapter/Laptop Adapter cables/Keyboard/Mouse - Less than 10% of total weight came from these. All adapters, mice, and other heavy plastics were removed prior to recording preprocessing wire/cable + connectors weight.
**NO RIBBON CABLE
**NO INTERNAL PC HOOK-UP WIRE
PROCESSING DATA:
***356lb preprocessed in-tact Insulated Wire/Cable (with all connectors; adapters, mice, etc. not included)
***55lb of gold pinned connectors removed
***Connectors $1.35 (Mario)
***Clean #2 $2.45 (my yard)
***Mixed Insulated wire/cable - $0.68 (my yard), $0.70 (Mario), $0.60 (Boardsort), $0.74 (Dynamic), $0.70 (Arcoa)
Wire/Cable Data
***301lb of mixed pc/telecom wire/cable into granulator
***146lb Recovered
***Gross Total = $357.70
***Gross Per/lb = $1.188
***Recovery % = 48.5%
Connectors
***Total 55lb
***Gross Value = $74.25
***Estimated Shipping ($0.30/lb) = $16.50
***Net Value = $57.50
***% of Total Wt (356) = 15.45%
Here's how to figure your top "buy price" for mixed PC & small electronics wiring using the data from this breakdown.
I've came up with a figure - I call it "MY FACTOR" - that accounts for transportation and labor rate per lb of wire/cable & allows me to quickly calculate my max purchase price or value. This is already becoming a book so I'll save the details for another thread, but this figure includes loading, unloading, sorting, trimming connectors, etc. It also takes into account fuel at 3.70/mi and assumes a total of 25mi of transporting (purchase-shop, shop-yard). I don't make any adjustments as long as fuel is w/i $0.50/gallon of $3.70. I also allow for mileage to deviate around 5mi before I make adjustments.
The rate I use is 0.0174hrs/lb for labor time, and transporting. Multiply that by your specific labor rate. Wala, you have your total overhead figure, aka your "MY FACTOR" .
So lets do a quick study as if we were bidding a lot of mixed PC wire/cable using this data. Assume 200lb of wire/cable & a labor rate of $20/hr.
-Our "MY FACTOR" is $0.348/lb
-Gold Connector Weight: 200 * 15.45 = 30.90lb
-Insulated mixed wire/cable weight -169.2lb
-Connector Value: 30.90*$1.35 = $41.72
-Connector Shipping @ $0.30/lb = $9.27
-Connector Net = $32.45
-Wire/Cable Value Insulated = 169.2*$0.68 = $115.06
-Wire/Cable Granulated Wt = 169.2*0.485 = 82.06lb
-Wire/Cable Granulated Value = 82.06*2.45 = $201.05
"MY FACTOR" - $0.348*200lb = $69.60
Total lot value insulated - $147.51
Total lot value granulator - $233.50
Bid Max Insulated (value-"MY FACTOR") - $77.91 or $0.39/LB
Bid Max Granulated (value-"MY FACTOR") - $163.90 or $0.82/LB
